How to Identify and Control Brown Recluse Spiders

Brown Recluse Identification and Control

Brown recluse identification is important because these spiders (Loxosceles reclusa) possess a bite that can be a serious threat to humans. They are common and widespread, especially in the South, so it's possible that you may have them living in your basement. Global warming has increased this animal's range to the point where it may be found anywhere in the lower 48 states. The bite is initially painless, but in some cases the venom triggers a necrotizing process that may destroy large amounts of tissue. The bite is rarely fatal but it may result in permanent scarring.

Controlling brown recluse spiders safely is not difficult -- read more to learn about these spiders and how to control them.

*WARNING* Some images in this guide may be disturbing to some readers!

One Good Way to Identify Brown Recluse Spiders: The Violin Mark

Look closely at the back of this spider -- can you see the dark violin? That's the tell-tale identification mark of the brown recluse spider. Be aware, though, that immature forms of the brown recluse may look quite different.

Spiders in the genus Loxosceles, which includes the brown recluse (scientific name: Loxosceles reclusa), look very much the same, though a specialist can tell them apart with ease.

What To Do If You Have Brown Recluses in Your House

First of all, don't panic! You may have many of these spiders in your house and never see one or suffer a bite. In 2001, more than 2,000 brown recluse spiders were removed from a heavily infested home in Kansas, but no one in the home ever even knew they were there, or had been bitten -- as far as they knew. Brown recluses have short fangs and would rather run than fight. The live in dark corners and come out only at night.

One good solution to a brown recluse infestation is to put out sticky traps. These traps are non-toxic and highly effective.

Brown Recluse Sppiders Caught by a Sticky Trap

Sticky Traps for Brown Recluse Control

In my experience, the best thing about spider sticky traps is that they contain no toxins or poisons. They are simply cardboard coated with sticky stuff and in some cases an attractant. Sticky traps also catch other insects, both good and bad, so only use them if you have a real, documented brown recluse spider infestation.

Brown Recluse Identification: Close-Up Showing Violin Markings

How Big Is a Brown Recluse Spider? Here's Brown Recluse Next to a Penny

Brown Recluse Identification -- Fangs of a Spider

The Geographical Range of the Brown Recluse Spider

There Are Several Spiders Related to the Brown Recluse: Here is Their Geographical Range

This map shows the general range of spiders of the Loxosceles genus in North America -- but due to climate change, the brown recluse range is expanding to the north. Spiders are now found commonly as far north as Chicago and beyond. This is true, by the way, for many other animals and insects, some of which you may wish would stay put where they are. Bed bugs, for example, are just one of the many little critters heading your way!

Brown Recluse Spider Identification vs Bed Bugs

This illustration shows some basic differences between an insect, like a bed bug, and arachnids, like the brown recluse spider.

(1) The bed bug has antennae, which are sensory organs that help the insect find food and avoid predators. They are often much more useful than eyes to the insect. The spider, on the other hand, relies largely on eyesight -- they have as many as four pairs of eyes, and use them! It's very hard to sneak up on a spider.

(2) Insects have three sections: head, thorax, and abdomen, while the spider has two segments; the head and thorax are combined into the "cephalothorax."

(3) The Insect has reproductive organs in the tip of the abdomen. The spider does too, but in addition it has a pair of "spinnerets," organs that spin silk. This process is worthy of a book in itself -- turning liquid into tough silk to catch prey, and then "eating" the web to recycle the material for a future web. Amazing!

Not every spider is a brown recluse, so please don't go around killing every brown spider you can find! Learn to identify brown recluse spiders and you'll know

Most brown recluse bites do not result in the large, necrotic wounds that will find all over the internet -- those are the worst-case scenarios! Still, it does happen, and this bite is one of the less-disturbing examples. The venom destroys living tissue over the course of several weeks, and when the damage finally stops you may be left with a disfiguring scar. Take these bites seriously! If you think you may have a brown recluse bite, GO SEE A DOCTOR. In some cases, infections can be fatal.

The twin puncture wounds caused by a spider's fangs

What to Do If You're Bitten by a Brown Recluse

You're bitten by a brown recluse -- what do you do? Freak out? Panic? Run around the room?

Probably not, because you won't even know you've been bitten. The bite of the brown recluse, unlike those of other venomous animals, is typically painless. The fangs are small, and you are likely to be asleep, since these spiders don't bite unless they're pressed against your skin and trapped, as they could be when they get tangled up in your bedsheets.

So the bite isn't painful, and here's some more good news -- recent studies are showing that the majority of brown recluse bites never develop into a serious or even noticeable situation, but simply fade away as the venom gets eliminated from your body. In addition, some terrible-looking bites, with huge wounds that don't seem to heal, may really be due to other causes, such as diabetes or staph infections. That may be cold comfort for you if you're dealing with a serious wound, but from the spider's point of view, it's highly relevant: don't blame these little guys for every bad situation!

But if you do have a bite you know about, get an ice pack on it to minimize swelling and slow the spread of venom. Keep the spider to show the doctors, and head straight to the emergency room!

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